It seems like a simple concept — the ability to freely enter and exit your home. Yet for thousands of disabled individuals across the state, this is a far too worrisome idea, and something Jonathan Aguero understood very well.

Several days ago, the 23-year old was unable to leave his home through its main entrance. After battling a brain tumor in 2010, Aguero suffered a stroke the following year, which led to immobility on one side of his body.

“We would take him in and out through a door in his room because it was the closest to ground level,” said his mother, Diana Aguero.

Thanks to the nonprofit organization Texas Ramp Project, a team of 15 volunteers came together one Saturday morning to build a wheelchair accessible ramp at Aguero's home.

“He's enjoying it so much” Diana Aguero said. “We were very grateful to have them come.”

The Texas Ramp Project, which started in 1985, is part of the San Antonio Express-News' annual Grace of Giving series, which highlights nonprofits during the holiday season.

Since 2006, the organization has built more than 3,000 wheelchair accessible ramps to individuals all across Texas, providing many of them with a sense of newfound freedom.

“People can't get out and do what we take for granted,” said Jim Laine, founder and executive director of the organization. “What we do is not particularly different or extraordinary, but people are ecstatic, crying even when we leave. (They're) really grateful to be able to get to their mailboxes.”

Funded by state agencies, foundations and donations, the Texas Ramp Project is based on a referral system, where clients must be referred by a health care provider in order to be considered for the installation of a ramp.

Depending on the size and layout of a client's home, a typical ramp installation takes four to five hours, with some parts constructed by volunteers at a warehouse.

Having them installed at no cost to clients would be near to impossible without the help of volunteers.

“We have some extraordinary, dedicated volunteers, people from all over the state,” said Laine.

Bill Manning, a 67-year old retired Army reservist and federal civil servant, is among the dedicated volunteers.

Manning, who is also a San Antonio-area team leader, has been involved with the organization for more than three years and has seen an increase in the number of clients being referred.

“All clients differ as far as their needs, but everyone is special. The need is there. We used to do one every other month, but because of the need and backlog we seem to be doing one every weekend lately,” said Manning.